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Composting
Food Waste Composting
Turn your kitchen scraps into fertile soil.
Do Compost: Vegetables and fruits, bread, grains, spoiled food, coffee filters and tea bags, eggshells, fruit from yard, and food soiled paper or cardboard.
Don’t Compost: Meat, fish, dairy (these attract rats), or pet waste (bag it, and put in trash).
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Systems for safe food waste composting
The best systems include worm bins, Green Cones, home made rodent-proof composters, and burying scraps in the garden. Closed containers keep rats, flies, and other animals out — that’s important!
Green Cones are buried halfway in the ground. Just dump food in and close lid. Wait 6 months, then harvest finished compost off bottom. Two Cones are best, so one can compost while you fill the second.
See the Green Cone User Guide (PDF) for more information. Seattle residents can see Buy Compost Bins & Rain Barrels for discounts on Green Cones.
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Worm Bins are home made boxes you fill with moistened “bedding” (brown leaves, sawdust, and shredded paper). Add red worms (see Resource List (PDF) for worm suppliers). Then just bury food waste in the bedding, to prevent flies and odors. Worms do the composting!
See the Composting at Home Guide (PDF, page 9), or Worm Bin Plans and Use (PDF, courtesy Seattle Tilth).
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Home Made Food Waste Composter Use a metal garbage can or similar rodent-proof container. Drill holes in the bottom, and bury it halfway in ground. Then just layer fresh food scraps with “bedding” like brown leaves, sawdust, or paper. You can add red worms, or they’ll find their way in from the soil.
See the Home Made Food Waste Composter (PDF).
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Burying in the Garden is a great way to compost vegetable scraps in the soil. Be sure to cover with at least 8 inches of soil to keep rodents and pets out. Some people start a 12 inch deep trench, and then bury in one end, covering with soil from the other end.
See the Composting at Home Guide (PDF, page 8).
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For more information
Want to find red worm suppliers? Got composting or yard questions? Call or email the Natural Lawn & Garden Hotline, (206) 633-0224. Or request a free print copy of the Composting at Home Guide (PDF).
Related links
Getting Started Composting has the basics.
Yard Waste Composting shows how to compost leaves, grass, etc.
Using Compost tells how to build your soil with compost.
Growing Healthy Soil Guide (PDF) has more information on using compost and mulches for a healthy, easy-care yard.
Compost Resource List (PDF) lists bin suppliers, tools, and more.
Buy Compost Bins & Rain Barrels - Seattle residents can purchase a compost bin at discounted prices!
Climate Action Now
Links on other sites
Seattle Tilth sells red worms, and offers classes in composting and organic gardening.
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